This was Penrith's first defeat in two months. Their seven-match winning streak is officially over.

Penrith sit on 20 competition points and remain inside the top eight but their top four aspirations are now just about dashed. The Panthers now know where they need to improve when playing top level teams.

Their small men - James Maloney, Wayde Egan, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai and - did cause some trouble at times for Canberra's big men.

The Panthers won't be too despondent. They did some nice things but this was a reality check.

BYE BYE DEAN

Penrith centre Dean Whare was sin-binned 22 minutes into the match for a professional foul on Canberra's Jarrod Croker, who was chasing a Josh Hodgson grubber.

Within 20 seconds of Whare being marched, Raiders second-rower Elliott Whitehead crashed over for his side's second try and a 12-4 lead.

An all-in push-and-shove melee just before half-time spiced up a game which saw frustrated Panthers skipper James Tamou get right in the face of referee Ashley Klein as they left the field for the interval.

Panthers star James Maloney also remonstrated with Klein before the referee comically told Maloney he was "setting a bad example".

HAIL SEZER

He scored a try and set up another - Canberra halfback Aidan Sezer is determined to go out a winner.

Sezer still has a year to run on his current deal but is expected to leave after this season to sign with an English Super League club.

It will give Canberra the money to re-sign Jordan Rapana and welcome a new halfback, Wigan's George Williams.

Sezer was among the best players on the field. He is often maligned but got the job done yet again on Sunday.